Senior Research Scientist Agriculture Victoria Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
Abstract Text: Apple scab, caused by the hemibiotrophic fungus Venturia inaequalis, is the most economically important disease of apples worldwide. Under favourable conditions, this disease can render the fruit unmarketable and cause a yield reduction of up to 70%. In Australia, apple scab is controlled by frequent fungicide applications during the growing season. Concern over residues and the development of fungicide resistance have prompted interest in developing alternative tools, such as biopesticides and natural products. Biological control offers an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides, utilizing natural organisms to suppress plant pathogens. The main goal of our research is to assess the impacts of five commercially available biological control agents on apple scab. Eleven Australian V. inaequalis isolates, representing apple scab from five states across Australia including New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia, were obtained from infected apple plant parts. To identify the most antagonistic agents, separate in vitro dual culture plate assays testing the biological control agents were conducted. Radial growth was measured weekly for two months, and spore germination was assessed after 48hrs. The potential ofcommercially available biological control agents for management of apple scab will be discussed.
